On Monday the world caught a glimpse of the pressure that Robert Mugabe is under, as global condemnation intensifies in the wake of his sham election. Mugabe went on a tirade calling a journalist a "bloody idiot" when he was waylaid by reporters at the African Union Summit in Egypt on Monday.
The drama happened when a journalist from the UK ITV news channel asked him on what basis he thought he was President of Zimbabwe. Mugabe responded angrily saying it was on the same basis that Gordon Brown is "Prime Minister of Zimbabwe". It is not clear if he forgot which country is his and which country is Brown's. He sounded muddled and angry at being questioned by the journalist.
In further exchanges with reporters, Mugabe shouted: "We are not a British colony, you must know that. We are not a British colony." He completely lost his composure and the situation was made more dramatic when his security pushed journalists away.
Commentators say the drama, captured on camera to the amusement of the world, clearly showed that the 84 year old leader is under severe pressure.
Ralph Black the MDC USA deputy representative, said Mugabe realises that there are serious divisions in Africa regarding his legitimacy and is lashing out under the pressure. He believes it is also a sign of weakness because he knows he cannot explain what he has done and that his 'election' has absolutely no credibility in the real world. "It was brazen daylight robbery. It was theft. It was criminal," Black said.
Most Zimbabweans contacted for comment said it was embarrassing to see Mugabe conduct himself in the way that he did, especially at such a forum.
One viewer said: "Mugabe's reaction clearly shows he is extremely frazzled and obsessed with the British. Such is his level of obsession with the British that he made the mistake of calling Gordon Brown the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe."
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What a doddering old fart!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/ bcpid1137883380/bctid1640107138
That's the footage if you're interested.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=1640107138
Thank you for your video. It's great to see the devil loosing his cool.
I'm most disappointed in the non-actions of Mr. Mbeki of South Africa who has been almost supportive of his brother-in-law Mugabe.... Mugabe has shown absolutely no regard for his people or for the rest of Africa, choosing only to do anything to anybody in order to hold power.
He had an opportunity to be an Elder Statesman and chose to be a petty, power-grabbing Dictator....
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